Moldova Vs Iceland
Sunday 17 November 2019 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: BetFred
UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying Betting – 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 16 November 2019 at 09:40)
Preview: Not a game to grab the neutrals attention, and for good reason, as Moldova welcome Iceland to their Zimbru Stadium in the capital Chisinau for this final Group H fixture. Neither can qualify automatically for the finals.
Moldova Preview – Paris display catalyst for further improvement?
Group H Results: France 1-4 (H), Turkey 4-0 (A), Andorra 1-0 (H), Albania 2-0 (A), Iceland 3-0 (A), Turkey 0-4 (H), Andorra 1-0 (A), Albania 0-4 (H), France 2-1 (A)
To the dismay of myself, who had banked on a very comfortable evening for their opponents, Moldova (6th – W1 D0 L8, GF3 GA24) would cause quite a stir in Paris on Thursday. Less than ten minutes into their encounter against the world champions, the team ranked a mere 175 would take an early lead through midfielder Vadim Rata. Ultimately that was to be their only attempt on goal the entire match, one they eventually lost 2-1 after giving away a decisive penalty late into the second period.
In the end a famous outcome was not to be, but the sheer fact their opponents needed goals from a central defender and late penalty to beat them has to be heartening. Unfortunately, though, that result does mean they remain bottom of the group, where they will conclude the campaign unless a positive outcome can be attained from their final fixture. That happens to be against an Iceland side who beat them 3-0 in Reykjavik back in September.
Moldova’s only victory in this group would come at home, which is one crumb of comfort for them. That was, however, against lowly Andorra (1-0). Encounters at home with France (1-4), Turkey (0-4) and Albania (0-4) were more chastening experiences, for a side that has succumbed to defeat in all but one of their nine qualifying matches, shipping 24 goals (2.66 per game average) in the process.
Iceland Preview – Icelanders to end qualifying on winning note?
Group H Results: Andorra 0-2 (A), France 4-0 (A), Albania 1-0 (H), Turkey 2-1 (H), Moldova 3-0 (H), Albania 4-2 (A), France 0-1 (H), Andorra 2-0 (H), Turkey 0-0 (A)
Needing to win in Turkey to keep alive the possibility of finishing as one of two teams to automatically qualify for the finals out of Group H, Iceland (3rd – W5 D1 L3, GF12 GA10) would fail in their objective after only managing a goalless draw in Istanbul. Just one shot on target the sum total of their efforts. All that remains now is making sure they finish the campaign strongly and hoping that is enough to meet the criteria for the play-offs which, as things stands, is the case.
Three points from this final group fixture should ensure them of a play-off berth. Sounds relatively straightforward enough, as does a trip to bottom-of-the-group Moldova. This is, however, a poor-travelling Iceland outfit, one that has only produced a solitary victory in their previous twelve away internationals (W1 D5 L6) – and that was a standard win against Andorra (0-2) – failing to even score half the time.
In this group alone, Iceland have gone to Albania (4-2), Andorra (0-2), France (4-0) and Turkey (0-0), securing only four points from twelve, conceding four goals on two separate occasions, and failed to score twice. That simply isn’t good enough, and was largely the reason behind Erik Hamren’s players caming up short in the battle to finish first or second. Bearing all this in mind, big improvements are needed if they’re to clinch one last win.
Moldova Vs Iceland Key Facts:
- Moldova are bottom of Group H, winning one of four home matches so far (W1 L3).
- Iceland are currently third but can no longer qualify automatically. One win in four away from home (W1 L3) cost them dearly.
- The reverse encounter, back in September in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, finished 3-0 in favour of Iceland.
Betting Summary
A valiant effort would unfortunately result in a now all-too-familiar outcome. Despite taking a surprise early lead away to France last time out, Moldova would still end up on the losing end of a 2-1 scoreline that leaves them bottom of Group H and needing to ideally win this final encounter to have any chance of avoiding finishing bottom. Their record at home, meanwhile, reads W1 L3, GF2 GA12.
Some late pressure aside, Iceland were rather disappointing in their must-win affair in Turkey on Thursday. The 0-0 draw killed off any hope they had of finishing in the automatic qualifying places in this group, with the play-offs now their best hopes. A strong finish is still needed, though, and that is far from guaranteed from a country which has won once (versus Andorra) in its past twelve away internationals (W1 D5 L6).
Although they would score in France a few days ago, Moldova are far from prolific (3 all campaign). The same applies for Iceland on their travels (4 from 4 in said fixtures in this group). Therefore the goal rush bookmakers are seemingly anticipating may not bear fruit. Iceland & Under 3.5 Goals at 21/20 (Betway) might be worth a small play.
